Return fitting for vapor-heating systems



March 9 i926. 1,575,862

L. F. OSTRANDER RETURN FITTING FOR VAPOR HEATING SYSTEMS Filed July 22, 920

" w ass sses awrea; Wasa- E IIB FITTING FOR asw m si s-W5- Application'filed July 22, 1920. serial nogsaz zem H To all wh omit may concernrz- Be it known that L'Lnwrs F. OSTRANDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the countyfofrMilwaukee and 5 State of \Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Inrprorementsr in Return Fittings for -Vapor-Heating 'systemsy'iof which the-following is a specification, refer ence beingfhad to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof." I

This invention relates to vapor heating systems'and more particularly to areturn fitting for such systems.

- Referring to the drawings whichacconipany this specification and form a part hereof, which drawings illustrate :an embodiment of this invention, and on which drawings the :same reference; charactersare used "to designate the same 7 parts wherever they may appear in:.each v 0f the several views, Fig. 1 is :a perspective viewzof a vapor heating system; Fig. 2 is an elevation of part of a 'radiator and connections on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is a se ctional elevation on an enlarged scale of a fitting; Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line H. on Fig. 3, lookingin'the direction indicated'by the arrows; and Fig. 5'is an end elevation ofan element. 1

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a boiler for generating vapor and which is also capableot' generating steam :at ia'pressure of a few pounds above the .pressure of the ati'nosphere; A supply pipe 2 is connected with the .top of the boiler and is looped back and-connected with the boiler below the water level therein. '.The supply pipe 2 should be: carried to a high point 3 and then pitch downwardly throughout its length to conduotwater of condensation back to'the 'boile'r. :This construction also results in any water flowing in the direction of movementof the vapor and facilitates the flow of vapor instead of tending to'retard-the flow of vapor. Three Fradiators of diiierent sizes, 4;, Sand. 6 are illustrated by the drawings to make the construction and 'operationof'thesystem and apparatus perfectly clear. The radiators 4. and 5 are illustratedas located'on' the same level or floor ofa building while-the radiator 6 is illustrated as located-011a higher level or an upper -fioor of 'a building. The-radiators are. connected with tliesupply pipe .2 'by the delivery-pipes 7-, 8 and. 9? and 111118 flow of l vapor orsteamet i fadi torsiai d- -heheating effect of individual radiators are controlled by valves l0.-'l heldelivery pipes 8and 9 are illustrated as Eleadingdirectly upward from the: supply pipe' 2Fso-that there (will be good'drainage for any water of condensation back into the supply pipe :2; Thelradiator 4 is illu'stratedas offset'itroir'z the supply pipe 2 and the partot' the delivery pipe 7 which is designated by the reference-numeral ll'should pitch 'Fup'froin the supply pipe 2 to? insure good drainage. 5 I The 5 point to be:observed FlS =that WtItGFOIE COIIClGIISQ'ttion in the pipesshall not; be perrnitted to enter the radiators'nor toimpede/ that flow of vapor to' the: tadiator'sw ThearadiatOrs are illustrated; as 5 receiving ltl'18' vapor at 1 their tops and this is. the construction which I prefer for the ordinaryconstructions-10f .-.radiators on :the;. m'arket.'; :The lower/ ends .of theradiators are zco'nnected withxaz pipe 12 which 5 serves the' dual function offan. fair 1 relief pipe and a'rreturn pipe to returli water of condensation to the bo1ler.- v: l he' pipe 12 'shouldbe pitched-down towards the boiler,

. as well asqall connections thereto e'xce'pt wvhere the air .lS separated, {to-insure .good drainage.

It is provided with a check valve 113 which opens towards the boiler-and the;L-l0west radiators 'shouldcbe high enough; above: the

boiler so that the'water columnin theFpipe 12 will be sulficient to open-the check valve 13 to return water of condensation to the boiler. Anautomatic, thermal valvelet permits air to'escape from :the pipe.12"while preventing they escape of vapor. or steam.

This valve should. be placed I as high as the installationwill permit and apipe' 15,may be led outside, the' building orinto a' chimney flue. If the. pipe be. led into a, chimney flue in whichthere' is a current of air or gases,.-an exhaust .created;hvl1icl1 tends to aid theremoval-ofak from'the pipe 12.

-An'enlarged;sectio1i of pipe 16"n1'ay be interposed betweenthe pipe 12 and the valve lease. wateiy'separatorl S uch a construc- "is no longer carried with theai'rcurrent.

' The radiators illustrated are of -itheself draining type, -'that is, the nipples; 17 areset so low that noappreoiableflrlantityf ofwater of'condensation canac'curnulatezo i remain in 'a' radiator to freeze .0r,0tl1ei:wisei interfere with theiiaqtioniofqthe:systeni.omapparatus,

The nipples If: fqiy-rradiatorsd and 6 aro'illustratedas connected to the same onds of the radiators as the delivery pipes 7 and 9., while the nipple 1:7 for ,t heradiatorb'is illustrated as connec'tedwith theei'id"of"tlie radiator to which the delivery pipe .8 is not connected. The reason for this construction is because the radiat0r;5. is longaseompared with its height and, when the length of a radiator exceeds threetimes the height of the radiator, the nipple should be at the opposite end from the delivery pipe to obtain the best results fromv the radiator.

Interposed between eachradiator and the pipe 12 is a trap 18-wit-h which, as a matter of convenience in construction, installation and use, certain other parts. are associated. v Y The trap is illustrated as provided with a well 19, the capacity of which is determined by a dam-20; gA- horizontal branch '21 is screwthreaded for connection with a nipple 17 by means of a union- 22. A ballvalvc 23 can move back and'fortti: in' tlie' hranch 21 and isguided rhy ribs 2 't to-insuienccuracy of movement and to lzeep the: ball 'valve above: the bottom oflthe hranch' 21 well is full of water, A wall 26 depends from the upper part of the trap and extends below the top'or the dam 20. The wall 26 is provided with an aperture 2-7 located above the top of the dam QO for' permitting air to pass from tl1e'b1'an-oh 21 tothe outlet 28 and} thence t tr ugh pipe1 22 to the separator 16. and pipe 15. Means are provided for restricting or adjusting the-aperture 27 to the rcquin'dments of individual radiators or in connection wimoth'erradiator-sot the system. A larger 'radiatorrequiresa larger aperture than a smaller radiator and, because of difierence in location; one or'more radiators may not be f'reed 'of- 'airas quickly as others. A-siinpl'e means for restricting or adjusting the size of the apertu-re 2'? is illustrated by tl'iedrawi-ngsi- The aperture is partly closed by a; member w'hichfis illustratd as'ascrew, with a: hole 39 through according to' pa rti'eWIar req i tirementst As -a practical-i PIOQG'SIHOII. dlfierent screwswith trapgcan be made as ,a' standard unit {for all sizes of rachatorsand each trap'can-be separately adapted to its particular radiator by acliusting the size ,of the aperture 27. By using a screw for'adpi'sting the thoroughfare throughthe aperture-27, the screw can also he used as an adjustable stop for the ball alve 23- witho-ut requiring one or more additional parts. is will be apparent, in the normal operation of the trap the hall valve .is open and rests against the adjustable member or screw 29, as shown in Fig. 3, the ball valv'eaeting to protect aperture 27 against stoppage due to accun'iulation of foreign matter at this point while permitting restricted flow of air through the aperture from the inlet to the outlet opening of the trap. The ball valve 23 thereby performs the double function of preventing backward flow of water and air throi-igh the inlet opening of the trap and also protecting aperture 27 against stoppage due to accumulation of foreign matter at this point. By

removing the plug 31 the well 19 can be drained and cleaned. The trap 18 is separate from the radiator,

is self discharging, and is readily accessible for thawing" the water in the well 19 if it The ball valve Bi-Sis located above the level of the water in the well 19 and does not corrode and stick.

The construction and operation of the system and apparatus will be readily understood fromthe foregoing description. The well 19 will permit any water of condensa tion to flow from a radiator the same as an I ordinary trap but the water in the well onthe side of the wall 26 adjacent the radiator -will continuously condense vapor in contact with its surface and maintain a flow of vapor through a radiator even when the radiator temperature and the temperature of the air in a room are substantially the same.

near said. radiator, said trap having a well formedthereln, a. wall depending into said welh-a' check valve on the radiator side of i said; wall, the'waill. being. provided with an aperture fortlie passage of air, and means it; scrcwedinto theaperture 2'2? which is' scrc wthreaded --tereceive The hole 30" can be made; originally of the reqaired size, or can be nlarged, o'r partly plugged up" for restricting said aperture.

In a vapor heating system, the com- -'binatien with a. radiator and a returnpipe therefor, of a tlap'havinga" Well formed therein, a vvallidependingzinto. said well, and

w I a ball eheclb valve;- on theradiator side of (literat -s r d tel sed seaked: the

sail-dived newer a e the at le e should be frozen, and can be readly re-' -moved for inspection, adpistment or repair.

in said well, the said wall being provided with an aperture for the passage of air at a point above the water level in said well.

A trap of the class described having an inlet and an outlet, a dam intermediate said inlet and outlet forming a well, a depending wall extending into the well below the top of the dam, said wall being provided with an aperture above the top of the dam, means to restrict said aperture, guides in. the inlet above the top of the dam, and a ball valve operable between said guides.

4.. A trap of the class described having inlet and outlet openings and a well there-- between, a wall extending into said well and forming with the water therein a seal to prevent the flow of air through said trap a check valve at said inlet opening adapted to prevent flow of air and water through said trap in a direction toward said inlet opening, said valve being normally open and opening upon movement thereof toward said wall, said wall being provided at a point above said well with an aperture to permit restricted flow of air through said trap, the apertured portion of said wall providing a stop for said valve and being so related with respect to the latter that the same acts to obstruct access to said aperture to thereby prevent the accumulation of foreign matter therein.

5. A trap of the class described having inlet and outlet openings and a well there-- between, a wall extending into said well and forming with the water therein a seal to prevent the fiow of air through said trap, a check valve at said inlet opening adapted to prevent flow of air and water through said trap in a direction toward said inlet opening, said valve being normally open. and opening upon moven'ient thereof toward said wall, said wall being provided at a point above said well with an opening, an apertured member secured in said opening, the aperture in said member providingfor restricted flow of air through said trap, said member providing a stop for said valve and being so related with respect thereto that the same acts to obstruct access to said aperture to thereby prevent the accumulation of foreign matter therein.

In witness whereof I hereto allix my signature.

LElVIS F. OSTRANDEB. 

